This textbook provides a step-by-step introduction to the history of the English language (HEL), offering a fresh perspective on the process of language change. Aimed at undergraduate students, The Emergence and Development of English is accessibly written, and contains a wealth of pedagogical tools, including chapter openers, key terms, chapter summaries, end-of-chapter exercises and suggestions for further reading. A central theme of the book is 'emergence', the key term from the study of complex systems, which describes how massive numbers of random verbal interactions give rise to regularities that 'emerge' without specific causes. This unique approach encourages readers to incorporate complex systems into the mainstream coverage of HEL. Additional resources include examples of language from each period, as well as appendices on terminology, online resources and audio samples.
Introduction; 1. Popular English: what we think we know; 2. Emergence; 3. Indo-European; 4. Origins of English; 5. Old English; 6. Early Middle English; 7. Late Middle English; 8. Early Modern English; 9. Modern English; 10. Contemporary English; 11. Standard English; 12. The future of English; Appendix 1. Terms and concepts for studying the English language: expression of words with sounds; Appendix 2. Terms and concepts for studying the English language: beyond expression to content; Appendix 3. Words in use: meaning and corpora.
